Rare Lichen Survey of BLM Lands in the Kremmling Area August 31, 2014 Circinaria rogeri Xanthoparmelia idahoensis Prepared for: Carol Dawson Botanist Bureau of Land Management, Colorado State Office Denver, Colorado BY: Brian A. Elliott and Scott F. Smith 1 Rare Lichen Survey of BLM Lands in the Kremmling Area TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 3 2.0 Target Species ........................................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Circinaria rogeri ................................................................................................................... 3 Figure 1: Circinaria rogeri ..................................................................................................... 5 Figure 2: Typical Circinaria rogeri habitat ............................................................................ 6 2.2 Xanthoparmelia idahoensis .................................................................................................. 7 Figure 3: Typical Xanthoparmelia idahoensis ........................................................................ 8 Figure 4: Xanthoparmelia idahoensis habitat ......................................................................... 9 3.0 Methods..................................................................................................................................... 9 4.0 History of our Knowledge ...................................................................................................... 10 4.1 Circinaria rogeri ................................................................................................................. 10 Figure 5: Circinaria rogeri in Middle Park, Colorado ......................................................... 11 Figure 6: All Known Colorado Circinaria rogeri Occurrences ........................................... 12 4.2 Xanthoparmelia idahoensis ................................................................................................ 13 Figure 7: Xanthoparmelia idahoensis in Middle Park, Colorado ......................................... 14 5.0 Results ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Figure 8: Overview of Kremmling Area Survey Tracks ...................................................... 16 Figure 9: August 29, 2014 Survey Track .............................................................................. 17 Figure 10: August 30, 2014 Survey Track ............................................................................ 18 Figure 11: August 31, 2014 Survey Track ............................................................................ 19 Figure 12: Kremmling Area Geologic Formation and Occurrence Data .............................. 20 Figure 13: Moffat County Area Geologic Formation and Occurrence Data ........................ 21 Figure 14: Montrose County Area Geologic Formation and Occurrence Data .................... 22 Figure 15: Rio Blanco County Area Geologic Formation and Occurrence Data ................. 23 6.0 Conclusions and Recommendations ....................................................................................... 24 7.0 Contact Information ................................................................................................................ 24 8.0 References ............................................................................................................................... 25 Appendix 1: Element Occurrence Forms ..................................................................................... 26 2 Rare Lichen Survey of BLM Lands in the Kremmling Area 1.0 Introduction The Kremmling area is home to two of Colorado’s rarest lichens: Circinaria rogeri and Xanthoparmelia idahoensis. Both species were first discovered in Colorado by Roger Rosentretter in 1995. No new occurrences were discovered until 2013 when new sites were found by Brian Elliott and Mike Kirkpatrick of Elliott Environmental Consulting during a vascular plant survey of Western Area Power Administration facilities near Kremmling. These new discoveries rekindled interest in the distribution and abundance of these two rare lichens as well as interest in the conservation of vagrant lichens. In 2014 Elliott Environmental Consulting entered into a service agreement with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado State Office to perform surveys for Circinaria rogeri and Xanthoparmelia idahoensis on BLM-managed lands near Kremmling. As a result of these surveys thirteen new Circinaria rogeri sites and fourteen new Xanthoparmelia idahoensis sites were located and documented. 2.0 Target Species Target species of the survey were the two vagrant lichens Circinaria rogeri and Xanthoparmelia idahoensis. These species are described below in sections 2.1 and 2.2. 2.1 Circinaria rogeri Circinaria rogeri is a vagrant lichen originally placed within Aspicilia fruticulosa. In a taxonomic revision of the group (Sohrabi et al. 2011) the North American members of the group were recognized as distinct from their Old World counterparts. Aspicilia fruticulosa was transferred to the genus Circinaria and given the epithet rogeri in honor of Roger Rosentreter, recognizing his work with soil crust lichens and valuable lichen collections. Life History: Circinaria rogeri is a vagrant lichen with a subfruticose, dichotomously to irregularly branched body, forming shrubby, more or less spherical to elongated lumps. Branches are compact, cylindrical, and short to relatively elongated. The surface color ranges from yellowish green to olive or dark green. The pycnidia are usually on top of branchelets, but are rarely located on other parts of the thallus. Circinaria rogeri is a rare species, usually found at elevations ranging from 3,300–7,900 feet. It is an obligatory vagrant species usually found on calcareous soils in shrub steppe. The species grows in open habitats that are ephemerally moist in winter or spring but dry most of the year. It inhabits black sagebrush, (Artemisia nova) or other Artemisia habitats. Associated plant species include Artemisia arbuscula, A. frigida, A. longiloba, A. tridentata subsp. wyomingensis, Achnatherum hymenoides, Atriplex confertifolia, A. nuttallii, Elymus spp., Eriogonum caespitosa, Haplopappus acaulis, Phlox hoodii, Petrophytum caespitosum, Poa secunda, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Stipa spp. and Tanacetum nuttallii. Circinaria hispida and Circinaria elmorei are often found with Circinaria rogeri. Elliott Environmental Consulting Page 3 Rare Lichen Survey of BLM Lands in the Kremmling Area Distribution and Abundance: Circinaria rogeri is known from southeast Utah, central and western Colorado, western Wyoming, southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. Sites are generally small and disjunct, although the lichen may be locally common. Prior to the recent Colorado discoveries Circinaria rogeri was known from less than 20 sites in North America. The species is currently known from southeast Utah, central and western Colorado, western Wyoming, southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. Prior to 2013 the species was known from a single site in Colorado located approximately six miles northwest of Kremmling. Five additional sites were found by Brian Elliott and Mike Kirkpatrick in 2013. Fourteen additional sites were discovered by Brian Elliott and Scott Smith in 2014, giving a total of 20 sites now known from Colorado. Circinaria rogeri is tracked by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (under the misapplied name Aspicilia fruticulosa) and given a conservation rank of G3S1. Threats: According to Rosentreter (1997) the primary threats facing vagrant lichens, including Circinaria rogeri, include wide scale land disturbance, livestock overgrazing, altered fire frequencies, and habitat fragmentation. Given the location of many Circinaria rogeri sites in the vicinity of Wolford Mountain Reservoir, water developments may also pose a threat. Finally, a lack of awareness about vagrant lichens results in these lichens not being considered in land management decisions. Elliott Environmental Consulting Page 4 Rare Lichen Survey of BLM Lands in the Kremmling Area Figure 1: Circinaria rogeri Elliott Environmental Consulting Page 5 Rare Lichen Survey of BLM Lands in the Kremmling Area Figure 2: Typical Circinaria rogeri habitat Elliott Environmental Consulting Page 6 Rare Lichen Survey of BLM Lands in the Kremmling Area 2.2 Xanthoparmelia idahoensis Xanthoparmelia is the largest genus of vagrant lichens (Rosentreter 1993), and Xanthoparmelia idahoensis is a globally rare member of the genus. Life History: Xanthoparmelia idahoensis is a vagrant lichen with the thallus usually wholly free, but rarely fused with substrate. The thallus is canaliculate below with the lobes convoluted and twisted. The upper surface is maculate with lower surface pale yellowish-green, browning only at tips. Xanthoparmelia idahoensis is a globally rare species. In Idaho it ranges from 3,900–4,500 feet while in Colorado it is known from 7,060–8,050 feet. It is an obligatory vagrant species usually found on calcareous soils in cold badlands with low vegetative cover. It inhabits low sage habitats with Artemisia nova or Artemisia arbuscula. Associated plant species include Artemisia frigida, Stipa hymenoides, Phlox hoodii, Machaeranthera grindelioides, Gutierrezia sarothrae,